A SARS-CoV-2 Prophylactic and Treatment; A Counter Argument Against The Sole Use of Chloroquine
Markus Depfenhart
Abstract
A better knowledge of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its underlying pathobiology is accumulating every day. Of huge importance now is to provide a fast, cost effective, safe, and immediately available pharmaceutical solution to curb the rapid global spread of SARS-CoV-2. This Opinion discusses the demands for such an ideal drug and taking into account an aspect of viral mechanisms of infection. An effective prophylactic medication to prevent viral entry has to contain, at least, either a TMPRSS2 inhibitor or a competitive virus ACE2 binding inhibitor. Using bromhexine at a dosage that selectively inhibits TMPRSS2 and, in so doing, inhibits TMPRSS2-specific viral entry is likely to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. We propose the use of bromhexine as a prophylactic and treatment. We encourage the scientific community to assess bromhexine clinically as a prophylactic and curative treatment. If proven to be effective, this would allow a rapid, accessible and cost-effective application worldwide.